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The well-worn Chinese proverb states that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Over the last few decades Everton have strode down too many blind alleys as they searched for the right road to a new stadium.

Since 2009’s abortive attempt to move to Kirkby, there has been little publicly released about the next step.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been a lot of work going on behind the scenes, but fans have wondered whether the club truly has any realistic prospects of building a new ground.

Well, you can’t make any sort of journey without knowing where you want to go, and now Everton have crystallised just where their destination is – giving a welcome clarity to what they hope the club’s long term future will hold.

First and foremost the club can rest assured the location will not split its fan-base like Kirkby did.

Walton Hall Park, just up the road from the Old Lady, seems like a natural fit. It is still very ‘Everton’ – in North Liverpool, in the heart of a working class community and accessible to fans coming from across the region.

Not everyone will be happy that it involves some of the city’s treasured park space, but subsequent debates must be reasonable and fair. The council have acknowledged that they gave Liverpool permission to build on Stanley Park, and could be accused of bias if they gave the Blues the cold-shoulder to a similar request.

It’s not suggested the project would see the 133-acre site vanish.

Walton Hall Park on Walton Hall Avenue, where Everton Football Club are hoping to build a new stadium

But it could well see the park – and the surrounding area – given a new lease of life with more than 1,000 jobs created in the process, and new homes and education centres providing essential regeneration.

Everton are keen to make it an inclusive journey. They want to bring the fans along with them, and promise to hear their opinions whatever they might be.

That’s important – but the club’s number one priority remains finding the means to make the move a reality.

At the moment they have a dream destination. They have the political good-will to get there and a sound plan about how to make it happen.

But, and the Blues executive team will need no reminding, they don’t yet have the funds to make it a reality. That will continue to be the big question mark book-ending any talk of a move.

Fortunately Roberto Martinez has made a habit of turbo-charging progress since taking over as manager last summer.

He has already given the club an ultra-positive new image, ensured their return to European football, and over-seen the spending of a record £28m on one player.

You’d have to back him to help Everton break into the top four, and the Champions League, sooner rather than later.

In turn that lucrative profile could prompt backers to get behind a new stadium.

In the meantime, it seems unlikely that Blues will be waving farewell to Goodison Park in the short-term.

That won’t bother most, who love their traditional home in spite of its faults.

At least now they know where the club wants to go next, and will hope for further regular updates now the journey, however tentatively, has begun.